2010's Year In Books

As this year is winding down, I thought it would be a good time for my final entry of 2010. This year has been hands down the year of change.I'm expecting next year to be similar in that way, but probably in a happier way. In 2010 me and my boyfriend bought a house and moved in together. I was in severe kidney failure for a few days. My parents are getting divorced. We got a new dog. And a whole lot more. 

My original plan was for this blog to be my New Years resolution. That is no longer the case, because I am so used to it already. I still want to push myself to read more than this year and to expand what I read. On top of that though, I would like to just be a better me. I want to do more. Try more things. Grow. My mom suggested instead of a resolution, pick a word to represent 2011. I think my word is grow. If 2010 has taught me anything, it is that nothing is concrete. So live the best you can while you can. Take everything in and appreciate it. If something is wrong, change it. 

And now on to the point of this blog... books!!!

I read 55 novels in 2010 and they are:

1.Twilight-Stephenie Meyer
2.New Moon-Stephenie Meyer
3.Eclipse-Stephenie Meyer
4.Breaking Dawn-Stephenie Meyer
5.A Dirty Job-Christopher Moore
6.Bloodsucking Fiends-Christopher Moore
7.Ring-Koji Suzuki
8.World War Z-Max Brooks
9.Norwegian Wood-Haruki Murakami
10.Molokai-Alan Brennert
11.The Dolphin People-Torsten Krol
12.Mathilda Savitch-Victor Lotado
13.Beatrice and Virgil-Yann Martel
14.Shutter Island-Dennis Lehane
15.The Boy with the Cuckoo Clock Heart-Mathias Malzieu
16.Blaze-Stephen King
17.Notes on a Scandal-Zoe Heller
18.Insomnia-Stephen King
19.The Killer Inside Me-Jim Thompson
20.Veronica-Nicholas Christopher
21.1984-George Orwell
22.Island of the Sequined Love Nun-Christopher Moore
23.The Wind in the Willows-Kenneth Grahame
24.Asleep-Banana Yoshimoto
25.A Stir of Echoes-Richard Matheson
26.What Dreams May Come-Richard Matheson
27.The Most Dangerous Game-Richard Connell
28.You Suck: a love story-Christopher Moore
29.Bite Me: a love story-Christopher Moore
30.The Stupidest Angel-Christopher Moore
31.Committed-Elizabeth Gilbert
32.The Princess Bride-William Goldman
33.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-Stieg Larsson
34.Fluke-Christopher Moore
35.Coraline-Neil Gaiman
36.Thirteen Reasons Why-Jay Asher
37.Kafka on the Shore-Haruki Murakami
38.Bad Things Happen-Harry Dolan

39.Salem's Lot-Stephen King 

40.The Moon Is Down-John Steinbeck 

41.Divine Misfortune-A. Lee Martinez 

42.The Andromeda Strain-Michael Crichton 

43.Still Missing-Chevy Stevens 

44.Room-Emma Donoghue 

45.Practical Demonkeeping-Christopher Moore 

46.The Lust Lizard Of Melancholy Cove-Christopher Moore 

47.Coyote Blue-Christopher Moore 

48.Into the Wild-John Krakauer 

49.Good Omens-Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett 

50.The Golden Compass-Phillip Pullman 

51.The Subtle Knife-Phillip Pullman 

52.The Amber Spyglass-Phillip Pullman 

53.Horns-Joe Hill 

54.The Curious Case of Benjamin Button-F. Scott Fitzgerald 

55.Misery-Stephen King

Out of those I have some favorites and some that I really hated. Here they are in no particular order:

Best

• Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
• Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
• Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller
• What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson
• Bite Me: A Love Story by Christoper Moore
• The Stupidest Angel by Christoper Moore
• Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
• Room by Emma Donoghue
• Into the Wild by John Krakauer
• Practical Demonkeeping by Christoper Moore
• Horns by Joe Hill

Worst

• Molokai by Alan Brennert
• The Dolphin People by Torsten Krol
• Mathilda Savitch by Victor Lotado
• The Boy with the Cuckoo Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu
• Veronica by Nicholas Christoper
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
• Fluke by Christoper Moore
• Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez
• Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
• Coyote Blue by Christoper Moore

I'm really looking forward to everything 2011 has to bring. I hope it is filled with peace, relaxation, love, fun and good health. 

Happy New Year!!!

Fireworks=Extravaganza!!!

Misery: Wrap Up!

Yesterday I finished Misery. I have to say, the movie is way better. Don't get me wrong, the novel was pretty good, but if you have already seen the movie you will like that better. The novel is much more gory and has a few different bits, but the movie follows it pretty close. As you can probably tell, I have a really hard time talking about the book by itself. It is really overshadowed by the film and I think that is part of why I didn't love it. If you are wondering whether or not you should read it I would say this: If you love the movie skip the novel. If you have never seen the movie then go ahead and read it.
Rating: 6/10

Random, but true.

HE DIDN'T GET OUT OF THE COCKADOODIE CAR!!!

I am pretty sure that I won't be able to finish another novel in 2010, so this is it for the year folks. 55 books in 12 months. That is about 4.5 books per month. Not too shabby : )
My next entry will be my 2010 year wrap up extravaganza! It's a big deal!

Happy Xmas!!!

This is real. YUCK.

Hard to believe it's Christmas already...but it is. It definitely doesn't feel like it to me! I got some really great presents and gave some great ones too. I think the fact that I worked yesterday and work tomorrow makes today feel a little less Christmassy. Oh well. It will still be fun! We are going to see my boyfriends side of the family all day.
Here are some fun Xmas links:

Xmas Facts

Xmas Creeps

Bizarre Xmas
This Xmas is kind of sad with what has happened with my parents. I thought I would be able to ignore that fact and just have nonstop fun. It didn't turn out that way. Instead, I am just hoping that next year things will be back to being as normal as can be expected. Or at least less hostile.

I am about half way done with Misery and I like it a lot. I have to say though, this may be one of the novels with a movie adaptation that is better. I'm hoping to finish it today. That would be nice :)

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Xmas.

Snowy Afternoon

Where to begin...
The past couple days have been very interesting. Too much is going on that I can't even touch on. This is definitely a time of contemplation and deep thinking. Unfortunately, everyday life makes that difficult sometimes. My parents situation is a soap opera. Trying to get my ducks in a row for school is overwhelming. Maintaining normalcy is a challenge. I have started doing tarot cards to try to sort through the muck. For the most part it is astonishing how accurate they are, but that could just be chance. Either way, it makes me feel better and gives me long term perspective instead of just focusing on the now.

I hate how reading has taken such a backseat in all of this. I am only about 50 pages in to Misery. It is really enjoyable, but I have my mind on so many other things. I sit down to read and minutes later I find myself wondering about life's problems. Hopefully I can figure out a way to manage things better.

Double Feature

It's been a while since I blogged last. I don't have too many new and interesting things to say. There is still way too much happening in my life and all that kind of stuff. This weekend will be a nice break from work and stupid errands. It will also be extremely bittersweet. My family is celebrating Christmas early, and it will be the first time we are doing it as a broken family. Saturday for mom, Sunday for dad. I'm sure both days will be fun, but obviously in the back of my mind will be sadness. This is the first time in my life I have wanted the holidays to just be over already!

Yesterday I finished Horns by Joe Hill. It was awesome! I think it is one of those rare novels that basically anyone can enjoy. Joe Hill is a great writer. He is nothing like his dad (Stephen King, who I adore). This is not a scary or suspenseful novel. It is more so an examination of life. It is at times sad, but always humorous. I give it a big fat 10/10.

I also read The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald yesterday. I was a big fan of the movie. It kind of cracks me up that the movie was based on this short story. They are nothing alike. The story is a silly little narration of a totally different Benjamin Button than the one you get to know in the movie. It is an interesting little read and the writing is very good and neat. No denying that F. Scott Fitzgerald was a brilliant writer. If you have ever has a curiosity about reading this, go for it. It will take you an hour max and it is fun. 7/10.

I think I will be reading Misery by Stephen King next. I need to read something gripping and scary and something that is detached from my life. Stephen King is usually a good way to go for that sort of thing :) Looks like this year I will have read 55 novels. Not bad, if I say so myself. I have a pretty neat blog in store for New Years and I am excited to start working on it. Hopefully it turns out the way I'm picturing it! Before that though, you will see a review of Misery!

Horns

I didn't finish The Amber Spyglass. I just wasn't into it. I was told how it ends and everything, so I know what happens. I don't think the ending was even that great. It's too bad the last book in the trilogy wasn't that great. His Dark Materials are worth reading if you have a good imagination, a lot of patience and some extra time. I wish so much that The Amber Spyglass would have been better. Oh well.
Rating: 5/10

Up next is Horns by Joe Hill. Mr. Hill is Stephen King's son, so this should be interesting. The novel is about a man who wakes up and is the devil. I don't know more than that. I don't believe it is supposed to be scary or anything.

I might not be blogging for a while. Just small updates now and then. I also have a big entry planned for New Years...considering that is why I started this blog to begin with. There is just so much going on right now in my life. And to be honest, I feel kind of lazy. Stress is weighing me down.

If you still have people to buy gifts for this holiday season and are sort of lost, I want to recommend Heifer.org
You can change so many peoples lives with the smallest amount of money. I think a great gift would be to give a donation in someones name. There are gifts for thousands of dollars and gifts such as a flock of ducks for only $20.00. That may not seem like much, but the website explains how a little flock of ducks could literally change these peoples world. So if you are someone who has everything, or know someone like that, consider a donation to Heifer.org

Update!

I'm hoping to finish The Amber Spyglass sometime tomorrow. I am so incredibly unfocused, it is nearly impossible to read for a long period of time like I usually do. Not to mention that I am bored to death with this novel. It is nowhere near as fun and interesting as The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife. I just want it to be over!

:)

The reason I am so unfocused is a mix between being stressed out by my parents divorce and stress of the holidays and other things. I also am working a lot more than normal and have a lot on my plate. I'm going back to school this summer and figuring out the financial aid stuff is insane. It's a really frustrating time in my life. I have to pretty much force myself to read. And to do anything other than sleeping and watching T.V. for that matter. Stress is a plague. I feel like coping with all this shit should be easier than it is. It's not though.

We got a Wii Fit and it is a ton of fun! I actually feel like I am getting a pretty good workout. I am trying to do it at least half an hour a day. I like that I can do it on my own time and change up the activities. Hopefully it isn't just some fad thing :)


Here are some fun links:
Controversial Apocalyptic Theories
Funny Photoshop
Embarrassing Ice Skating Moments